"He must have been just a bit upset about the way the game was going," he added.

Umpires stepped in to try to defuse the situation before Clarke spat his threat at Anderson.

After the Mitchell Johnson over was completed Clarke again confronted Anderson in the centre of the pitch and had some more pointed words with him.

The charge was brought to the ICC by on-field umpire Kumar Dharmasena and third umpire Marais Erasmus.

I love getting into a bit of a scrap and so do a few of their boys. Jimmy Anderson loves getting into it, seems to motivate him.

Mitchell Johnson

Clarke accepted the fine but stood by his sledging saying: "There is always banter on the field, especially between Australia and England, they are two teams who always play hard, tough cricket on the field."

"I still believe there is a very good mutual respect off the field. I can only talk from the Australian team. I have the utmost respect for their team."

Johnson, who was at the centre of a lot of the action thanks to his aggressive short bowling, said it was all part of the game.

"I always do, I love getting into a bit of a scrap and so do a few of their boys," he said.

"Jimmy Anderson loves getting into it, seems to motivate him."

The devastating quick had plenty to say to Joe Root during the former opener's solid second-innings knock but the 22-year-old merely laughed it off.